To ask how you remain composed? I'm going to lose my job at 11am.

[AbsolutelyCrushed]

My manager has invited me to a "next steps" meeting with HR.

I'm one week away from completing probation today, and they have to give me one weeks' notice. The timing won't be a coincidence.

Essentially, I've freelanced for them for years, but they said last year they'd have to stop giving me work due to IR35 unless I accepted a full-time job. I was nervous, but did - but the project they gave me changed, and turned out to not be my skill set. I've done a fine job, the client is really happy, but it's not what I want to do. I had a chat with a director a while back and he said they think I'm great and would find me something else, and just wanted me to be happy. We agreed I'd suggest and then train up a replacement for this project, and they'd find me work closer to what I usually do, and am good at.

I've done that. Replacement is in place. Everyone is happy (client has asked if I can stay in some capacity, but all is fine). Manager last week asked me "off the record" if I'd like to go back to freelancing - I said I hadn't thought about it but enjoyed being employed. To be honest, as they made me stop all freelancing when I signed my contract with them, I don't have the clients anymore. He said he wasn't aware of any other opportunities coming up in the next 2 months but would ask around.

He's now put a meeting in for 11am with HR and I can't stop crying. I'm the breadwinner, DH can't work due to a disability, and we have a toddler who has just settled into nursery. I'm so upset. I also feel really stupid. How do I get through this without crying?

It's a long time ago, and the circumstances (and tax rules) were different then but when I went freelance I only worked freelance. It was before IR35, and I worked projects that rarely exceeded 6-8 weeks; 10-12 weeks would be a huge job, first time round on a multi-year contract -- perhaps. If I got busy for a spell, I upped my rates to choke off demand. If it was slack, I dropped them a small amount. If I didn't want the work, I doubled the rate and gritted my teeth if I got it anyway.

Pricing yourself out of the picture works a treat, and never makes you a failure. You are never a fail if you are too rich for the client's budget. They find more money to pay you, or they settle for a budget option that's not what they want.

Sorry - late to the chat but IR35 was to stop 'self employed' people working for a single employer (so technically being employed but claiming all the S/E benefits).

If you were working with other clients before they took you on, then citing IR35 is bollocks! Presumably they must have had a specific job they wanted you for? Otherwise I can't understand their rationale at all?

Either way they have treated you appallingly - and I'm sorry you're so upset. But as PPs have said, use the garden leave to your benefit, and get back out there. You are obviously brilliant at what you do.

It's not you, it's them!!!

Have they got you to train someone who will cost them a lot less than you do so they can get rid of you and save money? What a bunch of wankers. You are way too good for them.

Hope you are having a very large glass of wine @AbsolutelyCrushed

I hope you are OK OP.

I get made redundant tomorrow. It's a bit unsettling as last time I was made redundant it took me ages to get another job so I'm a bit nervous. Especially as DH isn't bringing in any money at the moment now as he's working on launching his own product.

This time around at least I have got experience that opens up a lot more jobs and just in time a couple of external roles have asked me to interviews (and one internal one)

I felt calm when I got the news last month, I knew my industry was having a wobbly time and that this might happen, especially as I'd only been in role 18 months and was less 'essential' than some other positions. I found the thing that set me off feeling a bit tearful was other colleagues being so helpful and supportive!

I hope things work out all right for you.🍀

You're right to be angry. (Been made redundant twice, though never been freelance.) Do what you need to do to get through the next few days - prepare a counter proposal as suggested above.
Also, informally, can you lean on those who praised you to introduce you to new contacts for roles where your strengths lie? Especially anyone who is feeling guilty about how they've treated you / the impact on your family life.
As has already been noted, you have united MN, so you can do anything!!

OP I have no advice that hasn't already been given, just want to add to the chorus: it's not you, it's them!

They've behaved appallingly and I hope someone there has the decency to be embarrassed. If so, milk it for all it's worth.

Wish you all the best OP!

"To be honest, as they made me stop all freelancing when I signed my contract with them, I don't have the clients anymore. He said he wasn't aware of any other opportunities coming up in the next 2 months but would ask around."

Can you not communicate this to him professionally?

I was reading and nodding along until "I think it is your responsibility not to destroy my life" jesus Christ lol you're not in primary school anymore

Ahh the old 'training your replacement' bollocks. Had that happen to me when I was just 21...been working for the company for 3 years, helped steer it through a really difficult time when it changed hands...most of the original staff were let go, we went from 6 running the office to just 2.

The new owners then decided to move to a city 30 miles away. At that time I didn't drive, and couldn't afford to learn as I'd just got married and bought a house (when interest rates were at 15%!). I could barely afford to buy clothes... I ended up with an hour long train journey with a two mile walk to a bloody awful industrial estate at the end of it.

4 months after the move they'd sacked my colleague and I was the only original member of staff left. They hired a 'assistant' for me who lived locally, I trained her up for two months and they then promptly sacked me. Like you, all I got was 1 month's pay.

That was 34 years ago and I still remember how upset I was the day I was let go. For me the worst part was the being lied to, being told that the new member of staff was 'there to help me' when in fact it turned out she'd known from the minute she was hired she would be replacing me (someone who also worked there told me so afterwards).

In your situation, I would never work for them in any capacity ever again.

You are not a failure, if they didn't want you they wouldn't have offered you freelance work

The RSD is horrible isn't it.

You are not a failure; you tried something new, and did not find it a comfortable fit with your skillset. They value you enough to give you a month's gardening leave, and they want you to work for them again.

Anyone who does contract or consultancy work knows that work comes and goes, but your network of contacts is extremely important, because that's where you get your next job. So maintain good relations with them, because you will probably be working with them (either the company, or individuals that you have met there) again. You now have an expanded CV, and can use this as an opportunity to get some good references from them. You have a month paid to look for more work; I don't know what you do, but in my industry this is the best time of year to start looking.

IR35 is shit, though. You can jump through all the hoops, supply your own equipment, have multiple clients, work off site to your own hours, have substitute staff, etc, but (especially government-funded organisations) won't accept that you are a independent. So you end up paying more tax than permanent employees for none of the benefits. And with the fear that you can be back-taxed for arrangements that were perfectly within the rules at the time.

Onwards and upwards @AbsolutelyCrushed
Their loss.

Join a union

OP, how did it go? I really feel for you.

i use EFT Emotional Freedom Technique when I’m overwhelmed. Lots of people on YouTube to follow or find a professional on EFTIntl. Go for Level 3 though.

Breathing to calm Box Breathing as @BlurpBlorp suggested. One my ADHD daughter likes is counting to 4 on abdominal breath in through the nose, hold for 4 and out through the mouth for count of 6. Helps the parasympathetic nervous system calm down.
Big hugs 🤗

Was going to suggest the same thing. They were really helpful for my sister and also have a fair amount of information / resources on their website.

Sadly it’s very common for employers to take someone on probation and within minutes of the legal conclusion, the employer ditches them.

we had one local business who hired people who came with job start type financial assistance packages and when that was finishing, the business would terminate them. karma got the owners later as their marriage fell apart and everything had to be sold. He has a shocking reputation in the district as being a lazy, useless count.

it’s not you, it’s them and you have done your bit. They knew exactly what they were doing and fulfilled their needs. this was totally out of your hands.

please give yourself a big cuddle over the weekend, and start Monday with your chin up.

Steep learning curve. But are you sure you're going to be sacked? Companies don't usually sack people who are doing a great job. But maybe in future don't be so honest and candid and don't train someone up to replace you, until you've decided your next step? But you've done great in a role which you say is not your skillset, you've shown management capability by training someone else up and focussing on needs of the business. Take all that you've learned and find a new job where you're valued.

You are NOT a failure. Wallow for today and tomorrow is another day. Very best of luck to you.

YABU - you're not going to be sacked - it would have been easier to just not renew your contract under IR35 rather than bring you in house. My husband was a freelance, IT contractor working under IR35 and you just accept it - no holiday or sick pay or pension just premium rate pay while you are working for them with no notice period either way.

You got sucked into not getting advice before you moved from freelancing to PAYE.

You "should" never have had a probation period and your severance should have been 6 months money (maybe you'd have had to settle for 3 or 4 months) and of course you would never have had to give up freelance work.

You were a quasi business and they forced you to give it up without compensating you for doing so.

Others beware !

Good luck in the future, freelancing is better, you know it !

Can you explain @PetuniaT ?

The OP was freelance, she was given a full time permanent position with the company which she was happy to receive, they have now removed that fulltime permanent position - so why hasn't she has been sacked, let go or what ever you want to call it?

Just because they will give her "some" undefined amount freelance work doesn't mean she hasn't been sacked from her FT permanent position and is NBU to be upset about losing her job, the benefits, and security.

Agree with this. Why was IR35 an issue if you had other clients?

You are NOT a failure. Don't internalise this. They have been absolute fuckers!! Onwards and upwards, OP.